Outfitting the West End

Sunday

Feb 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM

WAYNE WITKOWSKI

About 25 contractors got together on Monday at Kinsley's ShopRite in Brodheadsville for lunch and to talk shop.

It wasn't a seminar, but a site meeting to get everyone under contract to turn the old supermarket site on Route 209, which closed nine months ago and reopened nearby to a bigger location, into the new Dunkelberger's Sports Outfitter store scheduled for a May opening.

The store will complement the main one in Stroudsburg that opened in 1972 on 585 Main St. and is even larger than that one at 30,000 square feet. But Roy Horton, vice president of operations for Dunkelberger's, said there will be plenty of merchandise to fill the spacious store and plenty of parking with 200 spots for the heavy traffic area.

"Everything is coming along well. The township here is very good working along with us," said Horton, who said township building permit requirements "are in place" and now it's a matter of getting the permits approved for selling hunting gear. "We know it will create 50 jobs for residents. It's another destination and great for township revenue."

And great for satisfying the large amount of outdoorsmen because the site will include an archery range in the back, an area for guns, another for boots and shoes toward the back of the store and an area for apparel on the side. There also will be an area for selling hunting carts, an electric and gas powered hybrid that resembles a quad.

Merchandise already is on order, Horton said.

"It will draw a lot of customers. The area is growing," Horton said. "It's the size of a box store but people like that it's a privately owned outdoor retailer and not just one of the chain stores."

At the site meeting, electricians, carpenters and general contractors met with Horton and lead contractors Rick Farmer and Doug Belanger of Build-All in Stroudsburg and came away visibly pleased.

"As long as the contractors work together, we'll get it done," Farmer said. "It's nothing we can't handle."

Farmer's company recently completed the Dome off Route 33 in Sciota, a 56,000-square-foot facility that can accommodate youth soccer, field hockey and even softball as well as other indoor leagues.

Although Farmer said the work is not much different from what he is accustomed to, the feeling is a little unique as he comes from a family that enjoys hunting.

"This is exciting. It'll be a nice store," he said.

Horton said it's an eager customer base as people stop into the building regularly to ask when it will open and to see how work is progressing.

"From Brodheadsville to Jim Thorpe, people are excited to have an outdoors outfitter in the area," Horton said.